Brown ready to deny Spurs freedom of expression

Hull City’s manager, Phil Brown, claims Tottenham Hotspur have a right to expect “fantastic football” from their players but is determined that they won’t display it tonight.

Spurs’ problems this season have been well documented, with the club struggling to pull away from the bottom of the Premier League despite a wealth of resources. They have shown their capabilities by reaching the Carling Cup final for a second successive season but are not clear of relegation danger. Hull are four points better off, going into tonight’s meeting of the two sides at the KC Stadium, but Brown is wary of the threat Harry Redknapp’s men pose. “We know what the players are capable of,” said Brown. “We went to watch Tottenham play Stoke and in the first half they played some fantastic football. But if you look at their squad, they are entitled to.” Spurs won that game at home last month 3-1.

“There are some big, big players and they spent a lot of money getting them,” Brown added. “If you look at our squad compared to theirs, it shouldn’t be on the same field – but it is because of what we did last year. For somebody, in the predicament Tottenham are in, to be able to get hold of £50m and spend it in January is testimony to Harry but he has still got to make them perform. I hope we stop them from performing.”

One player that could be on the Spurs bench is Fraizer Campbell, who should get a good reception after his heroics for Hull last year. Hull will welcome back captain Ian Ashbee after a calf strain, while Daniel Cousin is pushing for a recall after recovering from minor knee surgery.